La ” Nkoumba ” appelée plus tard à Cuba Rumba est une danse de nombril qui prend sa source en l’Afrique Centrale, plus précisément dans le Royaume Kongo et en République Centrafricaine chez ” Mbati “, un groupe ethnique du sud ouest du pays. En ” Mbati “, tout comme en ” Moukongo “, ” Nkoumba ” désigne le nombril. Chez les “Bakongo” groupe ethnique situé au sud du Congo Démocratique de l’Angola et chez les ” Mbati ” de Centrafrique, la danse de nombril est une expression folklorique charnelle permettant à un couple de danseurs de se produire nombril contre nombril.

Lorsque les esclaves noirs Africains débarquent à Cuba il y a 5 siècles avec la danse ” Nkoumba “, le colonisateur Espagnol supprime l’Africanité de cette expression culturelle, populaire et la baptise Rumba pour l’approprier. Du point de vue linguistique, Cuba conserve à ce jour plusieurs mots d’origine Africaine, et ce en dépit de nombreuses transformations constatées dans l’héritage culturel des anciens esclaves. La Rumba conserve à ce jour quelques mots bantou et yoruba dont on entend dans certaines chansons Cubaines. Lorsque la Rumba est revenue en Afrique entre les années 40 et 50, après avoir été longtemps un moyen d’expression artistique et de revendication des noirs qui dénoncent l’injustice dont ils sont victimes à Cuba, elle a été réappropriée par les Africains. Avec l’évolution du temps, les musiciens Africains intègrent leur folklore dans ce riche patrimoine culturel et l’enrichissent d’autres courants musicaux.

From Dr. Obadele Kambon's Capoeira Sojourn to Brasil in 2007

Stellar Malian actress/songstress Fatoumata Diawara performed with her band at The Sanctuary for Independent Media on April 28, 2016 and brought down the house.

www.mediasanctuary.org
www.fatoumatadiawara.com

Here she sings her powerful lament about the ancient city of Timbuktu, under assault by religious fundamentalists:

THIS IS MY LAND
This is Timbuktu, my home land,
Where the children are mourning from gloom,
This is my land, Timbuktu «the Maliba»,
The land of love,
The land of warmth,
The land of dignity,
Here is my Nation…
Why are we crying?
Why are the children crying?
Why are the young crying?
Cause of unfairness,
Cause of violence,
Fearing the future…
Here is my home
Stop crying
Cause no matter what, Timbuktu will remain

VIDEO PRODUCTION CREDITS

Cameras:
Elizabeth Press
Jay Wilcox
Jill Malouf

Camera assistant: Dylan Bodnar

Sound recording: Troy Pohl
Producer/house sound: Steve Pierce
Director/switcher: Branda Miller
Post production editor: James Bohuski

MUSICIANS
John Bashengazie

In this video, Bla XIt Messenger Tongie speaks about why her intention is to leave USA and move to Gambia!

Special thanks to Makonnen Sankofa (Bla Xit Video Editor). Subscribe to Makonnen's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channe....l/UCiP8DHZ_eEFLJdOn7

Please support the Bla Xit channel so we can continue producing more content, you can send a donation via PayPal to bopcollective@yahoo.com

Thanks to our recent Bla Xit donors: Shorna Abrahams, Jerome Obba, 2 Rich 2 Street, Caryne Charles, OIGcreative, Grachan Reagan, Sulayman Safriwe, Sheair Butters, Caroline Knight and Danyeandanya on YouTube.

Become a Bla Xit Messenger (Subscribers only) by sending your video clip to blaxithome@gmail.com

Special thanks to our friend and YouTube Vlogger Wode Maya for helping to set-up the Bla Xit channel. You can follow him on YouTube too https://www.youtube.com/user/MrGhanaBaby

In this video, Bla Xit enjoy a family day out on a typical Sunday at Palma Rima Beach in Gambia.

Special thanks to Makonnen Sankofa (Bla Xit Cameraman and Video Editor). Subscribe to Makonnen's YouTube channel for more great content https://www.youtube.com/channe....l/UCiP8DHZ_eEFLJdOn7

Thanks to our recent Bla Xit donators: Samantha Forrester, Sonia Brown, Aaron Williams, Humphrey Smith, Binta Embalo, Ebrima Colley, Anthony Smith, David Omigie, Jerome Obba, Latisha Watford and 5011 Ent. & Media.

If you would like to support the Bla Xit channel so we can continue producing more content, you can send a donation via PayPal to bopcollective@yahoo.com

Become a Bla Xit Messenger (Subscribers only) by sending your video clip to blaxithome@gmail.com

Special thanks to our friend and YouTube Vlogger Wode Maya for helping to set-up the Bla Xit channel. You can follow him on YouTube too https://www.youtube.com/user/MrGhanaBaby

A Bla Xit subscriber sent me this clip and I wanted to share her experiences with you. Do you know where you are from? Would you do this test?

In this video, Eugene Talford (US Representative of Ecowas) invites our Bla Xit subscribers to the Afro-Disapora Political & Economical Conference on October 12 at the African Union headquarters in Washington.

Juliet Ryan from Bla Xit will be speaking at the event. Julius Malema and Umar Johnson are two other influential Pan-African activists who will be speaking at the Afro-Disapora Political & Economic Conference.

Special thanks to Makonnen Sankofa (Bla Xit Video Editor). Subscribe to Makonnen's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channe....l/UCiP8DHZ_eEFLJdOn7

Thanks to recent Bla Xit donators: Zandela Soares, Beverly Daniel, Yafatou Fye, Johnston Designs, Maurice Rigaud, Jamil Potter, Patricia Ejiofor, Steven Williams, Stephanie Nwadiei.

Please support the Bla Xit channel so we can continue producing more content, you can send a donation via PayPal to bopcollective@yahoo.com

Become a Bla Xit Messenger (Subscribers only) by sending your video clip to blaxithome@gmail.com

Special thanks to our friend and YouTube Vlogger Wode Maya for helping to set-up the Bla Xit channel. You can follow him on YouTube too https://www.youtube.com/user/MrGhanaBaby

Ok Bla Xit family we are finally sharing our first Bla Xit interview ever with the legendary Wode Maya! Wode Maya has created a platform Africa to the world to show everyone the real Africa. His vloggs have been watched by millions worldwide. He has made over 500 videos and has over 250.000 quarter of a million subscribers and this figure is rising daily. His funny and educational vloggs show us the great beauty of Africa and the culture the people the food the life. That's is how we met Wode when travelled to The Gambia. Wode Maya and his team Elvis and Peace are dynamic snd produce high quality content. Our donations and support will ensure he can keep sharing his love of Africa. "Africa for the Africans home and abroad" was stated by Marcus Mosiah Garvey and Wode Maya (Kobi) Elvis and Peace are ensuring that his plans will come to fruition as many people really want to come home.